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TOES/USA is part of an international non-governmental forum for the presentation, discussion, and advocacy of the economic ideas and practices upon which a more just and sustainable society can be built - "an economics as if people mattered." TOES promotes economics which incorporate the sustainable use of natural resources and the productive engagement of all people in the development of their communities and societies. It addresses the disarray in conventional economics by helping to bring such economic thinking into line with late twentieth century realities.
Those who support and work with TOES are convinced that promising and constructive alternatives are available and are being developed and implemented all over the globe. TOES builds on a considerable tradition of theory and practice. An economics constrained by respect for the natural world and human dignity is possible. It is the goal of TOES to promote its further conceptualization and to encourage its elaboration in practice.
TOES' major ongoing activity is a yearly forum/exposition held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the world's leading industrial countries - the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. TOES also publishes books, occasional newsletters, and maintains contact with TOES-related colleagues in other countries.
The theme of TOES '97 was "Working Alternatives: A World That Works". It was held June 19-22, 1997, in Denver, Colorado. See the Peoples' Summit / TOES '97 Program for details.
TOES was founded by TOES/UK, now the New Economics Foundation. TOES was first held in England in 1984. From 1985 to 1987, TOES met in the UK and sent a delegation to the G-7 summit city. Beginning in 1988, TOES has convened every year at the site of the G-7 Summit. TOES has brought together academics and activists from both industrialized and third-world nations to challenge the assumption of the official summit that global economic policy affecting 100 percent of the world's people can effectively be made by the leaders of seven nations representing less than a quarter of the global population. In 1988 the newly formed TOES/North America sponsored the Toronto TOES as part of the Canadian-organized Citizens Summit; and in July of 1989, TOES/France held an alternative summit in Paris: L'Autre Sommet Economique. TOES '90 in Texas drew over a thousand people from 40 countries and every continent. TOES '91 was in the UK, TOES '92 in Germany, TOES '93 in Tokyo, and TOES '94 in Italy. Australia is not a member of the Group of Seven, but that hasn't stopped the Australians from holding TOES-Australia conferences in 1993, 1994, and 1995.
In 1995 TOES was active at The People's Summit, the alternative to the G-7 economic conference held in Halifax, Canada, sponsored by a number of organizations. Three local universities offered courses around G-7 issues, students were required to cover both summits, a local radio station covered both and tied the issues to the local economy. All "disposables" for the conference (paper handouts, cups, plates) were required to be recyclable. Lyon, France, was the site of the '96 summits, and the French organized several "contre sommets".
For a more detailed history of TOES and more links to other TOES homepages, see TOES History.
The uniqueness of TOES is that it re-emerges each year as an expanding network of networks, relinked and reinterpreted by volunteers from each host country and region. All are welcome to take part.
Go to TOES History.
Go to TOES-USA Home Page